Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?

[R00k]

My dog pretty well crunched up the universal remote that came with our cable box. Going to the local store to buy a new remote is pretty inconvenient here, and I've been thinking about getting a universal remote lately anyway.

Out of curiosity, are there any universal remotes that can actually control digital cable boxes?

I have Charter cable if it makes any difference, which originally came with a Charter-stamped Motorola remote for the box.

I've tried looking around, and talked to Charter's support as well, and haven't had much luck - it sounds like Motorola may intentionally make their systems hard to emulate or be compatible with, but I thought I'd post and see if anybody else has tried this.

Any suggestions?

[Turbine]

lol paying for cable

[PhoeniX]

Don't most universal remotes have a train feature where you just point your old remote at it and it learns the IR info?

[R00k]

But my old remote is in pieces in the trash.

[Dr_Watson]

get a harmony, the end.

[R00k]

Okay I will.

Which one? And how do you know it works with Charter digital receivers?

[PhoeniX]

But my old remote is in pieces in the trash.

Couldn't you borrow one off your neighbours?

[R00k]

Yea, I was just thinking that myself actually.

[Dr_Watson]

Okay I will.

Which one? And how do you know it works with Charter digital receivers?

whichever model fits your budget.
because they work with everything, especially something as common as a digital cable receiver. (i've used mine with time warner, cox, and DTV)

[Turbine]

You do realize you can get cable for free, by yourself?

[creep]

If you don't want to be here you can just leave. You don't have to riddla your way out.

[FragaGeddon]

I bought myself a Logitech 880 from NCIX for $200 Cdn. But you could go with the 550 which is cheaper. Get me the model number and make and I can tell you if it'll work.

[R00k]

I had to do a little last minute christmas shopping tonight, and Best Buy had the 880 on sale for $150 bucks. They were out of stock, but luckily Circuit City still does price matching.

Just opening it up now, thanks for the advice guys, I can't wait to get this setup. We also have a remote/IR-controlled ceiling fan and light fixture in our living room, and I think I might be able to control those with this too. That would be awesome.

[FragaGeddon]

Sweet man, You'll love the 880, I know I do. If the fan is not in the add devices, you should be able to learn from it by pointing the two devices together.

Edit: Spelleng mistakis.

[FragaGeddon]

I'm thinking about picking up a Tivo soon.
So I can transfer any thing I record to my iPod.

[SOAPboy]

You can set it up to your fans rook. Theres a manual programming thing.

Point to point or whatever its called.

[FragaGeddon]

Isn't that what I said.

[R00k]

I was mistaken about my fan - after I looked at it, it turned out to be RF, so I guess I won't be using the remote on it after all.

That's not what I bought it for anyway, just an extra I thought of on the way home.

I'm digging the remote, already programmed some custom commands in it for favorite channels and such. I can get used to this.

[Dr_Watson]

another one joins the expensive remote dark side.

[+JuggerNaut+]

You do realize you can get cable for free, by yourself?

shut up.

[YourGrandpa]

get a harmony, the end.

+1

[creep]

Isn't there a version of harmony with RF... or did I dream it.

[Giraffe }{unter]

I've had the Harmony 520 for a while now and it's lovely. The help feature is great for the wife and kids. if something is not working it asks a short series of questions and gets it working for them. It should be compatible with almost anything since logitech updates the database often. If not there is always the learn feature.

Another thing to keep in mind is Logitech is very high with the command delay. I've tweaked mine with to get a faster responce with no issues.

[R00k]

I've had the Harmony 520 for a while now and it's lovely. The help feature is great for the wife and kids. if something is not working it asks a short series of questions and gets it working for them. It should be compatible with almost anything since logitech updates the database often. If not there is always the learn feature.

Another thing to keep in mind is Logitech is very high with the command delay. I've tweaked mine with to get a faster responce with no issues.

Yea I've been thinking about doing that with mine. I've programmed sequences for a few favorite channels on the cable box (hit exit, then 0, 4, 1), and the delay is crazy. I need to play with a while to see what kind of delays will work. Do you remember what you set yours at?

Isn't there a version of harmony with RF... or did I dream it.

There probably is, but it's probably the $350 model that I won't be buying. Shame though, it would really be cool to use the remote for my fan/light in the living room. That's one less set of batteries I'd have to replace.

[Giraffe }{unter]

It's in the settings for each individual device, that's all I remember. It's been a while...